Bottle



(No Model.)

, A. L. CLARK;

BOTTLE.

No. 569,615. Patented 0011.20, 1896.

m: Remus Perms 50.. PHOTB-LITH UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ALFRED LCLARK, OF DUBUQUE, IOlVA.

BOTTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,615, dated October20, 1896.

Application filed February 10, 1896. Serial No. 578,663. (No model.)

T (1,25 whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottles; andl do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

In the use of bottles in which specifics are bottled, each manufacturedby a single house only, or special brands of wines, liquors, and thelike, it frequently occurs that when the contents has been sold theretailer will refill the bottle with an inferior grade or quality andsell it as the genuine, and to protect the manufacturers, and moreespecially the consumer, is one of the leading objects of my in-'vention.

It consists, essentially, in forming the upper portion of the neck ofthe bottle in the inside into a cone shape and the lower end of the neckinto funnel. shape, then forcing through the cone portion a compressibleand elastic valve which expands and fills the neck below the cone partand which is adapted to fit into the funnel at the bottom of the neck.

In order to clearly understand the manner of construction and mode ofoperation, 1 will proceed to describe the same.

In the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 shows a side elevationof one-half of the bottle, sectioned perpendicularly. Fig. 2 shows aside elevation of the valve; Fig. 3, a top view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4:, oneform of the valve with protector; Fig. 5, an additional protector forthe valve. Fig. 6 is a modified form of a protector for a valve, andFig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6 flattened out.

Like letters denote corresponding'parts in all. of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the neck of my improved bottle,which is formed into a cone shape 13 on the inside near the top. Thisinner surface of the cone B may be plain or fluted and operate equallywell; but I prefer it plain. The base of the neck is thickened at b andformed into a funnel or cup 0, with an open bottom at a, and adapted toreceive a valve, presently to be described. The valve D is formed ofrubber or any material capable of being compressed and which will expandto its original size after the pres sure is removed. The valve D ispointed at its lower end cl to just fit the funnel or cup 0. The upperend E of the valve may be rounded, as shown in Fig. 1, or may be cut inscallops e, as shown in Fig. 2. It may also be perforated near the topat g g, as shown in Fig. 1. The valve D is hollowed out at G in cupshape, having its upper edge quite thin for the reason presently toappear.

Embedded in the base of the valve is a metal plate 71., which may be athin fiat piece of metal, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be of acup shape, as shown in Fig. 4, or it maybe a rectangular shape, as shownin Figs. 6 and 7. If the latter, then I prefer to use two of said piecesin the manner and for the purpose to appear hereinafter.

The usual cork H is inserted in the mouth of the bottle.

An advantageous mode of using my bottle may be in substantially thefollowing manner: Before the valve D is inserted in the neck the bottleis filled. Then the valve D, being flexible and compressible, is forceddown through the cone B, and as soon as it is freed from the cone itwill drop into the funnel C and expand till it comes in'contact with theneck of the bottle. lVhen the contents of the bottle is to bedischarged, the cork H is removed and the bottle tipped to an angle, andthe valve will fall out of the funnel C and against the under side ofthe cone B, and the liquid will run out around the valve or through thescallops e, if the valve in Figs. 2 and 4 is used, or through the holesg, if the valve shown in Figs. 1 and 4 is used, or the pressure of thefluid upon the sides of the valve will force them in, and the fluid willescape into the cone part and out.

It will be readily seen that if the fluid is introduced into the neck itcannot enter the body of the bottle on account of the valve, and thevalve will the more readily dropinto the funnel G from the fact that theliquid would first fill the hollowed part B of the valve and force thevalve to position. It would also be very difficult to cut a hole in therubber valve on account of the metal plate 7t therein, and especiallywhen the metal is in the form of a cup, as shown in Fig. 4c.

It will further be seen .that the valve cannot well be displaced byanything like a wire inserted in the neck of the bottle, as the edge ofthe valve will be under the cone and in a position difficult of access.

If it is desired to further protect the valve from injury or removal,one or more of the rectangular strips K may be inserted in the neck ofthe bottle by doubling their ends together and forcing them into theneck, and as soon as they have passed the cone will expand and strikeagainst the sides of the valve and hold out the upper edges of the valveagainst the sides of the neck, where it will be difficult to reach bywire or otherwise, and if two strips are inserted crosswise of eachother it will be difficult to use a sharp instrument to cut the valve.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1; A bottle, having a neck that is made eonical upon its inner side atits upper end, and

a chamber formed in its lower end having abrupt walls or shoulders atits upper end. combined with a hollowed elastic plug-valve having itsupper end so shaped as to spring out under said walls or shoulders,substantially as shown.

2. Abottle having a neck that is provided with the conical portion B inits upper part, a chamber in its lower end; the upper end of the chamberforming an abrupt shoulder that stands about a right angle to the lengthof the neck, combined with a compressible valve that has its upper endto extend at right an-. gles to its length, so as to catch under saidabrupt shoulder, and a plate that is placed in the end of the valve,substantially as described. v

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALFRED L. CLARK.

W'itnesses:

M. M. CADY, J. E. Rossnn.

